Looking Back: July 30, 2014

Published: Monday, July 28, 2014 5:55 p.m. CDT

Caption

(Provided photo)

The J11 Roping Club of Cortland rides in the DeKalb Centennial parade in June 1956. In the first row of riders, from left, are Bud Thompson, Bill Adee, Kelly Housewert, Don Overton, Marge Johnson, and Jerry Johnson. Behind them, from left, are Red Freeman, Larry Carr, Thompson's daughter (name unknown), Vernon Thuestad and Cecil Hawkins. Thanks to Eloise Overton for the photo.

125 YEARS AGO

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July 31, 1889

The people of Illinois and of the whole Northwest would like to see the World’s Fair located at Chicago. That city has the enterprise and ability necessary to successfully handle such an affair.

The crowd of roughs who infested the grounds on the night of the picnic given by the Sycamore Scandinavian Club became very disorderly and abusive, and finally broke up the picnic and the dance by their rowdyism.

The most severe rain storm for years visited this section Saturday afternoon, doing much damage to the unharvested grain and corn crop. The rain was accompanied by immense hailstones, ranging in size from a good-sized hen’s egg on down. Many easily measured 4 and 5 inches in circumference.

In the case of a man in Cincinnatti who was arrested for selling ice cream on a Sunday, the judge declared that ice cream was not a luxury, but a necessity.

DeKalb is anxious to secure the removal of the county seat from Sycamore to that place, and offers to donate the land on which to erect suitable county buildings and $40,000 in money for its removal. ...If DeKalb has a surplus of change, we would suggest that she devote a little of it to bringing DeKalb up to a presentable point before asking any county favors.

An American was arrested on the Austrian frontier for having in his luggage unmistakable dynamite bombs. On further investigation, they proved to be coconuts, something the Austrain authorities had never seen.

The Parisians, it is said, are shortly to have the opera and drama laid in to their houses like gas and water, by the theatrophone.

100 YEARS AGO

July 29, 1914

The Nehring Insulated Wire Company, which has been doing a prosperous and steadily increasing business since it was established three years ago, changed hands on Monday.

E.L. Ames, a millionaire residing two miles south of Wheaton, was arrested last Friday, accused of allowing Canada thistles to grow upon his estate.

“Kodaking” is a most instructive and pleasant pastime. Snap the people and things you like with Eastman Kodaks, sold at F.E. Lee & Co. in Sycamore.

A suit of the Inter-township Telephone Company of Hinckley against the DeKalb County Telephone company is the first time one telephone company has asked the utilities commission to force another to give toll connections over its lines.

It is seldom a man looks as handsome as his photograph. It is much the same way with mail-order furniture.

There is a growing disposition to secure a state law to prevent the driving of an automobile by any person at all under the influence of liquor, on the ground that such a person is a menace to everyone upon the highway.

75 YEARS AGO

Aug. 2, 1939

Sycamore Park authorities are seeking the identity of a hit and run golfer whose ball struck and splintered a glass window in a parked auto. While the ball did no particular damage other than to the window, the owner of the auto and those who work at the park feel the least the golfer could have done was to leave his name and address and offered to pay the damage.

An active campaign to cut down speed on city streets and to abolish the evil of faulty automobile lamps has been inaugurated by city police.

The Waterman Band concerts continue to attract large crowds who enjoy the outdoor entertainment. Motion pictures also bring many people to Waterman on Saturday night, as seats are provided for all and many enjoy the pictures from their parked cars.

A plea for modernization of Lincoln Highway was made at a meeting of civil leaders. More than 350 automobiles joined motorcades to take delegates to the meeting, where speakers urged the Illinois public works director to widen the highway to 40 feet, with landscaped shoulders and lighted for night driving.

A total of 629 recipients will share in the $11,321 to be distributed in old age checks this month. This is an average of slightly less than $18 a month.

50 YEARS AGO

July 29, 1964

Work was begun Monday in the first phase of the long talked-of expansion of the Standard station on the corner of State and Main in Sycamore. Dismantling of the building that served as headquarters for Dr. Arthur Quinn, a veterinarian now retired, was the operation on contractor Paul Swedberg’s agenda.

Tilton Homes, the realtor and contractor, can provide 150 students who wish to attend NIU this fall with living quarters.

A bit of Route 34, a truck, and a car were given a splash of modern art Monday night and two drivers suffered minor injuries when an accident on the west approach to Sandwich dumped 85 gallons of paint over the truck, car and highway.

– Sycamore True Republican

25 YEARS AGO

Aug. 2, 1989

A 9,000-seat civic center proposed for DeKalb County cleared three hurdles last week as a result of quick action by Northern Illinois University, the DeKalb City Council and the DeKalb County Exposition Authority. ...The Board of Regents, NIU’s governing body, pledged up to $4 million for the project, consisting of both cash and an in-kind contribution of 29 acres of land west of the Grant Towers dormitories, the proposed site for the civic center.

A DeKalb County conservation official is urging farmers to review their methods of handling agricultural chemicals following a fish kill last week in a creek near Kirkland that is being blamed on an improper farm drainage system.

The cause of a fire which gutted the kitchen and attic of the It’s Greek to Me restaurant in DeKalb is still under investigation, but damage from the blaze is now estimated at $80,000.